Effect of Biofertilizer and Mulch on Growth, Yield, Quality and Economics of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

Background: Pea is a nitrogen-fixing legume. The interest in pea as soil-building crops is increasing day by day as the chemical fertilizers are becoming less available and more expensive. The use of fertilizers is also increasing leading to environmental pollution. The adverse effect of plastic mulch in agriculture is related to handling the plastic wastes and the associated environmental impact. The current study was aimed to search for organic alternatives to fertilizer and plastic mulch in order to overcome the defeatist effects on the environment.Methods: The present investigation entitled “Effect of biofertilizer and mulch on growth, yield, quality and economics of pea (Pisum sativum L.)” was conducted during Rabi season 2017-18 at the Experimental farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of four mulches, M0-No mulch, M1-Paddy straw@5t/ha, M2-Maize stubbles@4t/ha, M3-Sawdust@10t/ha and four Rhizobium doses, B0-No Rhizobium, B1-Rhizobium@20g/kg of seeds, B2-Rhizobium@25g/kg of seeds, B3-Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and their combinations. Conclusion: In the individual outcome of Rhizobium and mulch best results were obtained with the application of Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and saw dust@10t/ha. In interaction, Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and saw dust@10t/ha performed better as compared to other interaction treatments.